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STEM degrees are still top-paying fields of study

Engineering Staffing Report

STEM degrees are still top-paying fields of study

SIA Editorial Staff
| September 24, 2024
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College Graduate

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Petroleum engineering ranks as the highest-paying bachelor’s degree based on midcareer salary potential of $212,100, according to the 2024 College Salary Report by Payscale. Instrumentation technology paid the most for those with a two-year associate degree at $116,300.

Here’s Payscale’s list of highest-paying bachelor’s degrees at midcareer:

  1. Petroleum engineering, $212,100
  2. Operations research and industrial engineering, $202,600
  3. Electrical engineering and computer science, $192,300
  4. Interaction design, $178,800
  5. Building science: $172,400

The highest-paying associate degrees at midcareer are:

  1. Instrumentation technology, $116,300
  2. Software engineering, $112,400
  3. Radiation therapy, $109,500
  4. Fire technology, $102,500
  5. Instrumentation and control engineering, $101,900

“There’s no doubt that higher education is unaffordable, and employers are increasingly valuing alternative ways to gain skills, but the fact remains that a college degree significantly impacts earning power,” Amy Stewart, principal, research and insights at Payscale, said in a press release. “Our research shows that college graduates earn 37% more than those with only a high school diploma.”

Ivy League and technical schools delivered some of the highest pay for four-year grads, according to Payscale. Some of the top schools were:

  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, $196,900
  2. Princeton University, $194,100
  3. United States Naval Academy, $187,800
  4. Harvey Mudd College, $185,900
  5. Babson College, $181,400

Nursing schools were among two-year institutions providing the highest pay at midcareer for grads:

  1. Helene Fuld College of Nursing, $108,400
  2. Laboure College, $103,200
  3. Pacific Union College, $100,900
  4. New York University, $98,100
  5. Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, $97,700